Agencies, programs aid seniors who are in debt

What resources can you recommend to help seniors with financial problems? I hate to admit it, but I've fallen behind on my house payments and have accumulated quite a bit of credit card debt over the past few years. Where can we get help?

In debt at 70

Dear In debt,

There are a number of free or low-cost resources available today that can help seniors who are struggling with credit card and/or mortgage debt. Here's where you can turn to for help.

Credit counseling

To help you get a handle on credit card debt, a good place to start is at a credit-counseling agency. These are nonprofit agencies that offer free financial education and advice on how to handle financial problems.

If your debt is significant, they can set you up in a debt-management plan that allows a counselor to negotiate with creditors to lower interest rates and eliminate late fees and other penalties. The agency will act as a consolidator, grouping your debts together into one payment that you would make, and it distributes those funds to your creditors. Most agencies charge a one-time $30 set-up fee and a monthly maintenance fee of around $20.

To locate a credible agency in your area, go to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website debtadvice.org or call 800-388-2227. Do not use a for-profit debt-settlement company that claims to settle all your debt or cut it in half for a fee without counseling. Most of these companies use deceptive practices and will leave you more in debt then you already are.

Foreclosure help

If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments, or if you have received a letter or phone call about missed payments, contact your lender immediately to explain your situation and see if you can work out a payment plan. Be prepared to provide financial information, such as monthly income and expenses.

You also can get help from a housing foreclosure avoidance counselor. These are HUD-approved, trained counselors who will work with you, examining your financial situation, and offer guidance on how best to avoid default or foreclosure. They also can represent you in negotiations with your lender if you need them to.

To find a government-approved housing-counseling agency in your area, use the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website or phone number previously listed. Or, for a larger selection of housing counseling options, see the Department of Housing and Urban Development website at hud.gov - click on "Resources" at the top of the page, then on "Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling" - or call 800-569-4287.

Another helpful resource, and one your counselor can help you explore, is the Making Home Affordable program. Created by the Obama Administration in 2009, this program offers struggling homeowners the opportunity to modify or refinance their mortgage to make their monthly payments more affordable.

It also includes the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program for those who are interested in a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. To learn more about these programs and eligibility requirements see makinghomeaffordable.gov or call the Homeownership Preservation Foundation's HOPE Hotline at 888-995-4673.

Financial assistance

You also need to make sure you're not missing out on any financial assistance programs. The National Council on Aging's website (benefitscheckup.org) contains a database of more than 2,000 federal, state and local programs that can help seniors with prescription drug costs, health care, food, utilities and other basic needs. The site will help you locate programs that you may be eligible for and will show you how to apply.

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Agencies, programs aid seniors who are in debt

What resources can you recommend to help seniors with financial problems? I hate to admit it, but I've fallen behind on my house payments and have accumulated quite a bit of credit card debt over the

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